Readers shared how they perceived trust – some saw it as an emotion, some saw it as a relationship, others described it as a mindset. They took the discussion beyond the original question and explored how we extend trust to others based on many variables.

Here is a partial list of the variables that impact how freely we extend trust, based on reader comments. What would you add?

The Other Person’s Reliability and Morality Based on Our Experience With Them

The Level of Our Relationship With the Other Person

Our Perception (Glass Half Full or Half Empty) and Approach to Life

Whether or Not We Share Values or Common Goals With the Other Person

The Perceived Level of Risk in the Situation (and Our Level of Fear)

Our Expectations About How Trustworthy the Person Will Be

How Much the Other Person Has Extended Trust to Us

How Clear the Communication is Between Us

Our Perception of How Capable the Other Person Is

Our Perception of the Other Person’s Motives

The Other Person’s Behavior

In spite of how many variables readers mentioned that impact how freely we extend trust, the majority felt strongly that it is still good to freely extend trust. Below are some of the reasons they named for freely extending trust when we meet someone new.

Reasons Why We Should Extend Trust Freely

Most people are honorable

Extending trust is leading by example, showing the other person the way we would like to be trusted

Our lives will be unhappy if we mistrust everyone

As we trust others, they are more likely to trust us back

Special thanks to the many readers who posted insightful comments in response to the original post. I’ll leave you with this quote:

“Someone who thinks the world is always cheating him is right. He is missing that wonderful feeling of trust in someone or something.” – Eric Hoffer

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About Linda Fisher ThorntonLinda Fisher Thornton is Founder and CEO of Leading in Context, and author of the award-winning book 7 Lenses. She teaches as Adjunct Assoc. Prof. for University of Richmond SPCS. She is leading a movement to help leaders and organizations Unleash the Positive Power of Ethical Leadership.

I think this is a great list. One thing I would add is our nature. Some people are naturally trusting, and some people are not. Some of this comes from experience, but I think some is innate.

I agree with your comments that most people are good, but in a business context that doesn’t mean that we should extend trust to everyone. There are some genuinely bad actors out there who will take advantage of people who are more trusting. I don’t worry about customers as I do about co-workers.